A Peregrine Falcon using the structure of a bridge near Montreal city.

The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) must maintain their structures and perform repair work on several of its facilities. However, species protected by provincial and federal laws are found on its structures, in part because they use them for nesting, as is the case for the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). The presence of these species during the breeding season may cause conflicts during maintenance or work, since laws prohibit disturbing or destroying the nest of such species.

In 2011, FES was mandated to conduct behavioural monitoring of Peregrine falcons during the nesting period as work took place within the nest protection zone determined by Quebec provincial’s Ministère du Développement durable de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques. This monitoring included, if needed, to capture, band, and/or incubate eggs in captivity, and/or deliver eggs or young to adoptive parents, for eventual release to the wild. Also, since 2012, a management plan for the Cliff Swallow has been established and mitigation measures have been undertaken, with a complete nest survey and monitoring of behavioural disturbance during the swallow nesting.